5,323 research outputs found
U-branes and T^3 fibrations
We describe eight-dimensional vacuum configurations with varying moduli
consistent with the U-duality group . Focusing on the
latter less-well understood SL(3,Z) properties, we construct a class of
fivebrane solutions living on lines on a three-dimensional base space. The
resulting U-manifolds, with five scalars transforming under SL(3), admit a
Ricci-flat Kahler metric. Based on the connection with special lagrangian
fibered Calabi-Yau 3-folds, this construction provides a simple framework for
the investigation of Calabi-Yau mirrors.Comment: 21 pages, harvma
Biofilm and the role of the ica operon and aap in Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates causing neurosurgical meningitis.
Fifty-five Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates, classified as contaminants or causing device-related meningitis, from external ventricular drain (EVD) and non-EVD cerebrospinal fluid specimens were characterized. Thirty-three of 42 (78.6%) meningitis isolates were PCR-positive for ica and aap, known determinants of polysaccharide- and protein-mediated biofilm production, whereas five of 13 (38.5%) contaminants were ica- and aap-negative; 71.4% of meningitis isolates and 84.6% of contaminants produced biofilm. ica+aap+ meningitis isolates produced more biofilm than ica+aap- isolates (p 0.0020). ica+aap- isolates did not produce more biofilm than ica-aap+ isolates (p 0.4368). Apparently, ica and aap are associated with biofilm production in S. epidermidis device-related meningitis isolates
The Host Galaxy and Central Engine of the Dwarf AGN POX 52
We present new multi-wavelength observations of the dwarf Seyfert 1 galaxy
POX 52 in order to investigate the properties of the host galaxy and the active
nucleus, and to examine the mass of its black hole, previously estimated to be
~ 10^5 M_sun. Hubble Space Telescope ACS/HRC images show that the host galaxy
has a dwarf elliptical morphology (M_I = -18.4 mag, Sersic index n = 4.3) with
no detected disk component or spiral structure, confirming previous results
from ground-based imaging. X-ray observations from both Chandra and XMM show
strong (factor of 2) variability over timescales as short as 500 s, as well as
a dramatic decrease in the absorbing column density over a 9 month period. We
attribute this change to a partial covering absorber, with a 94% covering
fraction and N_H = 58^{+8.4}_{-9.2} * 10^21 cm^-2, that moved out of the line
of sight in between the XMM and Chandra observations. Combining these data with
observations from the VLA, Spitzer, and archival data from 2MASS and GALEX, we
examine the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the active nucleus. Its shape
is broadly similar to typical radio-quiet quasar SEDs, despite the very low
bolometric luminosity of L_bol = 1.3 * 10^43 ergs/s. Finally, we compare black
hole mass estimators including methods based on X-ray variability, and optical
scaling relations using the broad H-beta line width and AGN continuum
luminosity, finding a range of black hole mass from all methods to be M_bh =
(2.2-4.2) * 10^5 M_sun, with an Eddington ratio of L_bol/L_edd = 0.2-0.5.Comment: 19 pages, 16 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
The Radio Quiescence of Active Galaxies with High Accretion Rates
We present 6 cm Very Large Array observations of the Greene & Ho (2004)
sample of 19 low-mass active galaxies with high accretion rates. This is one of
the only studies of a uniform sample of narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies
with such high sensitivity and resolution. Although we detect only one source,
the entire sample is very radio-quiet down to strong limits. GH10 was found to
have a radio power of 8.5 x 10^21 W/Hz, and a ratio R = f(6 cm)/f(4400 A) of
2.8. The 3 sigma upper limits for the remaining nondetections correspond to
radio powers from 3 x 10^20 to 8 x 10^21 W/Hz and 0.47 < R <9.9. Stacking all
nondetections yields an even stronger upper limit of R < 0.27. An assessment of
existing observations in the literature confirms our finding that NLS1s are
consistently radio-quiet, with a radio-loud fraction of 0%-6%, which is
significantly lower than the 10%-20% observed in the general quasar population.
By analogy with stellar-mass black holes, we argue that AGNs undergo a state
transition at L_bol/L_Edd~0.01. Below this value a radiatively inefficient
accretion flow effectively drives an outflow, which disappears when the flow
turns into an optically thick, geometrically thin disk, or a radiation
pressure-dominated slim disk at still higher L_bol/L_Edd.Comment: To appear in ApJ; 8 pages, 3 figures; uses emulateapj5.st
Aquatic Treadmill Training Reduces Blood Pressure Reactivity to Acute Graded Exercise in Previously Sedentary Adults
Endurance exercise may reduce blood pressure and improve vasodilatory capacity thereby blunting the hypertensive response to stress. To test the efficacy of a novel model of low-impact endurance training, the aquatic-based treadmill (ATM), to improve blood pressure parameters, we recruited 60 sedentary adults and randomized to 12-weeks of either ATM (n = 36 [19 men, 17 women] , 41±2 yr, 173.58 ±1.58cm, 93.19 ±3.15kg) or land-based treadmill (LTM, n = 24 [11 men, 13 women], 42 ±2yr, 170.39 ±1.94cm, 88.14 ±3.6kg) training; 3sessions·wk-1, progressing to 500 kcal·session-1, 85% VO2max. The maximal Bruce treadmill test protocol was performed before and after training with blood pressures measured prior to, at the end of each stage, and for 5 minutes following exercise testing. Twelve subjects (5 ATM, 7 LTM) volunteered for biopsies of the vastus lateralis before and after training, and muscle samples were assessed for eNOS content. Blood pressure data were analyzed using group by training ANCOVA repeated across training, α = 0.05. Data obtained from muscle sample analysis were analyzed using group by training ANOVA repeated across training α = 0.05. Training reduced systolic blood pressure (9- 18.2mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (3.2-8.1 mmHg), mean arterial pressure (4.8-8.3mmHg), pulse pressure (7.5-15mmHg), and rate pressure product (1.8-3.9 bpm·mm Hg·103) during exercise stress and recovery in the ATM group, but not in the LTM group. Additionally, the ATM group, but not the LTM group, displayed a 31% increase in skeletal muscle eNOS content following training. Both groups improved VO2max (+3.6mL O2·kg-1·min-1), but resting blood pressure was not changed following training. These data support the use of ATM training as a novel therapeutic modality to combat hypertension
Are intuitions about moral relevance susceptible to framing effects?
Various studies have reported that moral intuitions about the permissibility of acts are subject to framing effects. This paper reports the results of a series of experiments which further examine the susceptibility of moral intuitions to framing effects. The main aim was to test recent speculation that intuitions about the moral relevance of certain properties of cases might be relatively resistent to framing effects. If correct, this would provide a certain type of moral intuitionist with the resources to resist challenges to the reliability of moral intuitions based on such framing effects. And, fortunately for such intuitionists, although the results can’t be used to mount a strident defence of intuitionism, the results do serve to shift the burden of proof onto those who would claim that intuitions about moral relevance are problematically sensitive to framing effects
Four Dimensional String/String/String Triality
In six spacetime dimensions, the heterotic string is dual to a Type
string. On further toroidal compactification to four spacetime dimensions, the
heterotic string acquires an SL(2,\BbbZ)_S strong/weak coupling duality and
an SL(2,\BbbZ)_T \times SL(2,\BbbZ)_U target space duality acting on the
dilaton/axion, complex Kahler form and the complex structure fields
respectively. Strong/weak duality in interchanges the roles of and
in yielding a Type string with fields . This suggests
the existence of a third string (whose six-dimensional interpretation is more
obscure) that interchanges the roles of and . It corresponds in fact to
a Type string with fields leading to a four-dimensional
string/string/string triality. Since SL(2,\BbbZ)_S is perturbative for the
Type string, this triality implies -duality for the heterotic
string and thus fills a gap left by duality. For all three strings the
total symmetry is SL(2,\BbbZ)_S \times O(6,22;\BbbZ)_{TU}. The
O(6,22;\BbbZ) is {\it perturbative} for the heterotic string but contains the
conjectured {\it non-perturbative} SL(2,\BbbZ)_X, where is the complex
scalar of the Type string. Thus four-dimensional triality also
provides a (post-compactification) justification for this conjecture. We
interpret the Bogomol'nyi spectrum from all three points of view. In
particular we generalize the Sen-Schwarz formula for short multiplets to
include intermediate multiplets also and discuss the corresponding black hole
spectrum both for the theory and for a truncated ---- symmetric
theory. Just as the first two strings are described by the
four-dimensional {\it elementary} and {\it dual solitonic} solutions, so theComment: 36 pages, Latex, 2 figures, some references changed, minor changes in
formulas and tables; to appear in Nucl. Phys.
Ferromagnetism in laser deposited anatase TiCoO_{2-\delta} films
Pulsed laser deposited films of Co doped anatase TiO2 are examined for Co
substitutionality, ferromagnetism, transport, magnetotransport and optical
properties. Our results show limited solubility (up to ~ 2 %) of Co in the
as-grown films and formation of Co clusters thereafter. For Ti0.93Co0.07O2-d
sample, which exhibits a Curie temperature (Tc) over 1180 K, we find the
presence of 20-50 nm Co clusters as well as a small concentration of Co
incorporated into the remaining matrix. After being subjected to the high
temperature anneal during the first magnetization measurement, the very same
sample shows a Tc ~ 650 K and almost full matrix incorporation of Co. This Tc
is close to that of as-grown Ti0.99Co0.01O2-d sample (~ 700 K). The transport,
magnetotransport and optical studies also reveal interesting effects of the
matrix incorporation of Co. These results are indicative of an intrinsic
Ti1-xCoxO2-d diluted magnetic semiconductor with Tc of about 650-700 K.Comment: 14 pages + 9 figure
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